Abstract: A method and system for the backup and recovery of a converged infrastructure computer system are provided with the ability to determine if the backup meets requirements of a disaster recovery plan. The method and system provide backup and recovery of the data and applications including backup and recovery of the configuration and mapping information of the converged infrastructure computer system. The backups are periodically tested to determine if they meet predetermined metrics that are specified in the disaster recovery plan.

Abstract: An illustrative method for validating integrity of a source server backup includes receiving, at a recovery server, data indicating a state of a data storage unit associated with a source server, creating a virtual hard drive image from the received data, and storing, in memory of the recovery server, the created virtual hard drive image. The method also includes booting a virtual machine using the stored hard drive image and mounting a second drive image to the virtual machine including tools facilitating access to an operating system running on the virtual machine by an application running on the recovery server. The tools are prevented from being installed in an operating system running on the source server.

Abstract: A cloud based method and system for the backup and recovery of a computer or computer system is provided with the ability to determine a network model that emulates the network environment of the computer or computer system being backed up. Should a disaster event occur, the network model is used by a disaster recovery computer to construct a virtual network environment that emulates the network environment of the backed up computer or computer system.

Abstract: An illustrative method for validating integrity of a source server backup includes receiving, at a recovery server, data indicating a state of a data storage unit associated with a source server, creating a virtual hard drive image from the received data, and storing, in memory of the recovery server, the created virtual hard drive image. The method also includes booting a virtual machine using the stored hard drive image and mounting a second drive image to the virtual machine including tools facilitating access to an operating system running on the virtual machine by an application running on the recovery server. The tools are prevented from being installed in an operating system running on the source server.

Abstract: A method and system for the backup and recovery of a converged infrastructure computer system are provided with the ability to determine if the backup meets requirements of a disaster recovery plan. The method and system provide backup and recovery of the data and applications including backup and recovery of the configuration and mapping information of the converged infrastructure computer system. The backups are periodically tested to determine if they meet predetermined metrics that are specified in the disaster recovery plan.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for the backup and immediate recovery of an application executing on a computer. The method and apparatus provides file level backup of a target computer executing the application. The file level backup is transformed into a bootable machine image that is accessible for immediate recovery of the application by either a virtual server executing on the apparatus or an external server or an external virtual server.

Abstract: Consent-based application programming interfaces (APIs) are used to provide privacy access controls to operational systems for business services accomplished particularly in an electronic and/or networked environment. An API implementation device or host provides a link between a channel application, configured to provide an interface with a customer, and privacy data as used by operational applications and obtained from databases such as data warehouses. The privacy APIs provide per-customer choice/consent to obtaining and/or retrieval of privacy information/data and per-customer access thereto. In one form, the privacy APIs are used in business initiated self service applications wherein an activity or event triggers business to customer initiation.

Abstract: Establishment of the context of a customer's present and future interaction with a business regardless of the interaction channel used, is facilitated by use of an interaction history database. The interaction history database stores data regarding past customer interactions. The business accesses and sorts interaction information from the interaction history database related to a customer when that customer initiates a new interaction with the business. The interaction history database may also be accessible by the customer for self service applications. The customer may access the presentation of their interaction history in an “actionable” manner. In one instance, context of an Internet user's query to a business regarding an Internet site of the business visited by the user, is conveyed to the business via data (i.e. text) automatically inserted into an e-mail after selection of an e-mail link from the business Internet site.